Worm farm

Worm farming is a process in which worms are used to recycle food scraps and other organic materials into valuable soil fertilizer called vermicompost or worm compost. When worms eat food scraps that are rich in nutrients, they produce compost that is nutrient rich which can be used to grow plants.

Materials used:

The following materials are used for prepare a worm farm:

• Worm bin: Buy or build a box with holes in the bottom made of wood or plastic. The size of the container depends on the amount of food scraps that one wishes to compost. You need one square foot of surface area for one pound of food waste. Use a shallow container rather than a deep one as the red worms are surface-dwellers and prefer to live in the top 6 inches of the soil.
• Worms: Red worms (500-2000 red wigglers) are best suited for worm farm as they thrive on organic materials. They are found in aged manure, piles of leaves and compost heaps. Scientific names for red wigglers are Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus.
• Bedding: Moist newspaper strips, uneven cardboard and/or leaves.
• Organic materials: Worms eat any organic material but raw fruits and vegetable scraps are recommended. Meats, cooked food and dairy products can also be used. However they take longer to break down and can attract pests.

How to set up a worm farm?

To setup a worm farm, First of all you need to set up a favorable condition for worms. Worms like a moist and dark environment. There also need air, food and warm temperatures. Use moist newspaper strips or leaves which can hold moisture and contain air spaces.

Drill holes in the bottom of the container. A plastic bin needs more drainage. Place the bin on bricks or wooden blocks for air circulation. Place a tray underneath to collect excess liquid. Fill the bin with moistened beddings. Add the red worms. Pull aside some of the beddings. Add food waste and bury it with the bedding. Add one cup of soil or sand to help the worms in their digestive process.

Make sure to keep the bin away from direct sunlight, heavy rain and cold.

Harvesting:

Your worm farm will take around 3-5 months to complete the process of composting. The worms eat the food waste which turns to compost as it passes through the worm’s body. Finally the compost exits from its tail end. As time passes, there will be more compost deposits than the bedding.

Summary:

The resulting compost is good manure for house plants and gardens. However, you may face certain problems with your worm farm such as bad odor or fruit flies. Avoid adding more food waste into the bin and occasionally stir the contents to allow fresh air. Check if the drainage holes are not blocked. To avoid fruit flies cover the bin with a plastic sheet or a lid.